Old Testament

New Testament

Deuteronomy 1:10-21 Common English Bible (CEB)

10. The Lord your God has multiplied your number—you are now as countless as the stars in the sky.

11. May the Lord, your ancestors’ God, continue to multiply you—a thousand times more! And may God bless you, just as he promised.

12. But how can I handle all your troubles, burdens, and disputes by myself?

13. Now, for each of your tribes, choose wise, discerning, and well-regarded individuals. I will appoint them as your leaders.

14. You answered me: "What you have proposed is a good idea."

15. So I took leading individuals from your tribes, people who were wise and well-regarded, and I set them up as your leaders. There were commanders over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, as well as officials for each of your tribes.

16. At that same time, I commanded your judges: Listen to your fellow tribe members and judge fairly, whether the dispute is between one fellow tribe member or between a tribe member and an immigrant.

17. Don’t show favoritism in a decision. Hear both sides out, whether the person is important or not. Don’t be afraid of anyone because the ruling belongs to God. Any dispute that is too difficult for you to decide, bring to me and I will take care of it.

18. So at that time, I commanded you concerning everything you were to do.

19. We left Horeb and journeyed through that vast and terrifying desert you saw, on the way to the hills of the Amorites, exactly as the Lord our God commanded us. Then we arrived at Kadesh-barnea.

20. I said to you: You have come to the hills of the Amorites, which the Lord our God is giving to us.

21. Look! The Lord your God has laid out the land before you. Go up and take it, just as the Lord, your ancestors’ God, has promised you. Don’t be afraid! Don’t be frightened!

Read complete chapter Deuteronomy 1